Rivers to exit Milwaukee Bucks and Antetokounmpo could follow after admitting: ‘It’s not up to me’
Giannis Antetokounmpo could leave the Milwaukee Bucks this summer
It promises to be an intriguing off-season in Milwaukee with Doc Rivers departing as coach of the Bucks and star player Giannis Antetokounmpo potentially following him through the exit door.
Rivers took over the Bucks in January 2024 and led them to two first-round play-off exits before a disappointing 2025/26 season in which the team has limped to a 32-50 record.
“[The season] didn’t go the way I wanted it to go, obviously,” Rivers said after Milwaukee’s 126-106 defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
“I always say I could do a better job. We could have had better health. We could have had all kinds of things. I’m not a big guy at looking back. All you can do is look forward. We did a lot of things to improve a lot of the young guys. Unfortunately, that was the road that kind of presented itself for us, and we did that.”
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Antetokounmpo future with the Bucks uncertain
The Bucks have struggled with injuries to key players this season, most notably Antetokounmpo, who was limited to just 36 games.
The 31-year-old becomes an unrestricted free agent next summer and the team have said previously he will be traded in 2026 if he does not agree a new contract.
Asked yesterday if he had played his last game for the Bucks, he said: “That’s a very good question. I don’t know. It’s not up to me. We’ll see.
“We have [several] months [until the new season starts in October] … it’s a long time. But somebody has to offer you that, for you to sign. I haven’t been offered an extension. So, if that is on the table, then I will try to make the best decision for me and my family.
“But if it’s not on the table, then I have to focus on how can I improve my worth and get on the floor and do what I do.”
The Bucks are ‘very bad’ admits Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo cut a frustrated figure when asked for his thoughts on the team’s season.
“We’re very bad. We are the furthest away that we’ve been in the last couple of years,” he said. “How many wins we have? 32? This is the second-lowest wins I’ve ever won. So yeah, we’re the furthest away that we’ve been, I think. So, we’ll see.
“This is what we have in front of us. I didn’t think we’re going to be in this position last year, so I don’t know what position we’re going to be next year.
“So, if everything goes well, hopefully, the Bucks want me here, why not? But if they don’t? OK.”